The Next Best Thing, part I (explicit)

September 25, 2009 on 11:36 am | In SS-Elise, Serial Story | No Comments

Relief, at least some measure of it, eased the invisible tension from Xu’s shoulders. He’d updated the Captain and gotten her agreement not to interfere prematurely in the situation with Enchev. The Captain, however, had cut Neve’s window in half by putting the ship on stasis alert.

Still, Neve had six hours, which was plenty of time. It was also enough time for Xu to bleed off some of the sexual frustration Neve induced. He had a few hours before the Pleasure Lounge and other recreation areas began powering down, and he intended to use them.

He spread his arms along the back of the low couch and surveyed the lounge. Along the interior walls were privacy booths. The area along the hull wall was dotted with small tables and conversational groupings of furniture, constituting what Xu thought of as the spectator gallery. The middle of the large room, where he now reclined, was sunken below the level of the floor and boasted a variety of couches, chairs, benches and low tables. This was center stage.

Though he often preferred privacy, the throbbing in his veins demanded quick satisfaction. The need to control his partner and demonstrate that control to others beat at him.

Fortunately, he’d played this game often enough that nearly everyone on board knew the rules.

He allowed a small smile for the tiny blonde kneeling before him. He’d partnered with her before and her sense of adventure and sure self-understanding worked well with Xu’s more dominant style. “What are my rules, Valerie?”

He posed the question more for the benefit of the young man kneeling beside her than for Valerie herself. Xu hadn’t partnered with Kevin before, and Valerie’s answer would help Kevin understand the dynamic.

“To respect my own limits, to speak up if I am uncomfortable, to do as you ask, and to please you.”

“Very good, Valerie. What are your limits today?”

Color stained her cheeks, emphasizing the delicate lines of her face. “No elimination, no blood,  no bruises visible while in uniform. I reserve the right to refuse a partner in a respectful manner, and no anal play.”

Xu tipped his head to the side. The long hair tucked behind his ear slipped free to fall across his face. The tug of the heavy lock pricked over his scalp. Valerie usually enjoyed anal play, and her new limit concerned him, though neither his face nor his voice revealed that concern. “You are well?”

The color spread from her cheeks to stain her entire face. “Yes, sir.”

Interested, he considered pressing the matter, but his own need for release goaded him onward. He shifted his attention to the dark-haired young man before him.

“Ensign Robards, do you understand the rules?”

Surprise showed briefly on the other man’s face. Whether from being called by name when they had not been introduced or from the unexpected question wasn’t certain.

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you agree to the rules? You are new to the Mercy. If you would prefer to wait, the invitation to join me will remain open.”

He didn’t hesitate. “I agree to the rules, sir.”

Interesting. The young navigation officer certainly seemed to know what he wanted. “What are your limits, Kevin?”

By using his first name, Xu deliberately moved from professional to personal interest.

Kevin cleared his throat. “No elimination, no permanent damage, no sexual contact with any male excepting you. Sir.”

Definitely interesting.

“Very well.”

Xu settled back, a glance taking in the curious gazes of their audience.

“Kevin, bring that table over here. Place it a meter in front of me.”

“Yes, sir.” He moved quickly to fulfill Xu’s instructions. He was lean and graceful, not tall, but spare.

With the table situated, Xu studied his partners. Unlike other Graei of his class, he did consider them partners, not playthings to be used and discarded. The fundamental difference had drawn ridicule and incurred unease at Court. Where the attentions of most Crystal Graei left their lower-ranking playthings cringing, Xu’s partners had blossomed. Indeed, his partners liked him too well. His royal relatives became concerned about his ability to engender loyalty in the lower classes. After all, the rabble far outnumbered the Royal.

With an imperceptible shake, he pulled himself from his pointless memories to concentrate on the present.

“Thank you. Now, I want both of you naked.”

He deliberately left it open, not commanding them to his will. While he was sure of Valerie, Kevin was still unknown. This gave Xu an opportunity to judge his response.

Valerie skinned out of her uniform in a fast, practiced move. She’d put her body on display more than once in this arena and had no hesitation. Her small, compact body with its feminine curves and dips bumped Xu’s arousal up a notch. Her full, rounded breasts rested against her narrow ribcage, the pale nipples already beginning to firm. The trimmed hair on her mound matched the pale blonde on her head, nearly disappearing against her skin. Pretty.

Kevin followed after a brief hesitation, releasing the tabs on his uniform with more deliberation than eagerness.

Xu’s impression of spareness played out in the narrow span of Kevin’s shoulders and the lean, furred muscle of his chest. The line of hair arrowing down his flat belly flared into a thick patch of dark hair at his groin, framing his uncut penis. Evidently his family hadn’t held to the old Earth tradition of circumcision. Even soft, he held the promise of an impressive erection.

“Kneel.” He waited until they were on the floor. “Knees apart, hands behind your back. Chin up, eyes down.”

Sitting back, he admired them for a moment, allowing his anticipation to build. Valerie’s breasts thrust out, her nipples tightened to little points. The pink of her feminine folds peeked from the concealing outer lips, teasing him with a preview of her secrets.

Kevin’s cock stirred under Xu’s regard, twitching and lengthening.

“Very nice.”

Xu scooted one booted foot forward. Using the reinforced toe, he carefully parted Valerie’s labia. Her chest rose and fell with her increased breathing, but she remained still. He pressed the hard synskin into her, wedging her clitoris between the boot and her pubic bone. Her shoulders jerked before a fine trembling spread over her, but she didn’t break her posture.

After a long moment, he pulled his foot back, gratified to see the subtle shine of moisture on the smooth black surface. He’d need to clean the boots, but that was of little consequence.

Xu cut his eyes over to Kevin. Though he was trying not to show it, Kevin’s eyes were on Valerie’s pouty labia. Xu wondered whether Kevin was interested in Valerie and thought this was the best way to jumpstart a sexual relationship with her. If so, he misjudged Valerie. She would be more hesitant now, knowing Xu had mastered him.

Unless…

“Valerie, on the table. Face me, legs apart. I want that pretty little pussy wide open for me.”

Still keeping her eyes downcast, she rose and perched on the table. In a move that demonstrated her flexibility as much as her willingness to follow his direction, she hooked her knees over the corners of the table, her thighs running in a line with the edge of the table. Her hands rested flat on the surface. The posture thrust her breasts up like an offering.

Xu’s cock surged, the sight of her open and waiting stoking his arousal. Her intimate flesh was a deep pink, the delicate sheen and prominent ridge of her clit revealing her interest.

“Beautiful,” Xu praised. His voice was steady, almost detached. Though he found her attractive, enjoyed playing with her, Valerie didn’t engage him emotionally, so he needed little enough effort to control his responses.

With slow deliberation, Xu slid his arms off the back of the couch and leaned forward, elbows on knees. The move swung his hair forward, rubbing it against the tips of his ears in a subtle caress that sped his heartbeat.

“Kevin.”

“Yes, sir?”

A smile threatened at Kevin’s quick response.

“Stand up. That’s it. Come over here and turn around. I want you to look at Valerie.”

Kevin’s breathing accelerated at the sight of Valerie spread like a banquet.

Oh, this was too good. The head of Xu’s cock throbbed against his uniform. The complex manipulation of pulling strings excited him as much or more than the sex, and these two provided a wealth of opportunity. If Xu read Kevin correctly, and he was rarely wrong when reading humans, Kevin tended toward dominant and had strongly heterosexual tendencies. To have him offer himself was a special treat. Kevin seemed to be fighting his natural inclinations to participate in this little scene, and that gave Xu more ammunition than he expected. The thought was enough to have his mouth watering.

Xu brought his knees together, leaning back a bit. Kevin, staring mutely at Valerie, seemed to have lost track of the fact that Xu was seated behind him. His hands fisted beside his hips, and Xu decided to intervene before Kevin did something he’d have to curb.

Gently, Xu placed his hands on Kevin’s bare hips. The light touch caused the younger man to flinch. He began to turn his head to look over his shoulder at Xu, but caught himself in time. With obvious effort, he relaxed his muscles under Xu’s hands.

“Sit,” Xu directed, already guiding Kevin’s hips.

Moving stiffly, Kevin gingerly perched his bare buttocks on Xu’s knees. His back was ramrod straight: he’d tensed again. Xu ran his hand up the stiff line of Kevin’s spine, leaking energy from his fingertips. It was a peculiar talent of the Crystal Graei to be able to read the sexual energy around others and to manipulate their own. Most humans felt this energy in radiating warmth, but Xu’s perfect control allowed him to create pulses and waves of heat and electricity for his partners. Here, the simple warmth was enough.

Kevin relaxed in increments, letting Xu’s thighs take his weight. Xu slid his hips up until Kevin’s ass cradled the ridge of Xu’s erection. Kevin flinched again, but relaxed almost immediately. He was learning.

Leaning in close, Xu pitched his voice not to carry past Kevin’s ear. “Tell her to lean back. I want her head to hang over the back edge of the table so she is looking at the audience.”

Kevin started to turn his head, but stopped when Xu’s lips brushed the lobe of his ear.

The ensign cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. “Lean back. Lay flat and tip your head over the edge.”

The junior officer’s voice was clear and directive. Definitely more comfortable in the pilot’s seat.

Xu rested his hands on the tops of Kevin’s thighs, holding him in place. Slowly, inexorably, Xu spread his legs, opening Kevin’s at the same time. Kevin’s audible gulp as his cock and balls were exposed had Xu itching to move things faster. He controlled the impulse ruthlessly.

“Valerie needs to be dominated. If you play sub too well, she won’t have you.”

Now Kevin’s head did swing around. Their noses bumped, their lips no more than a millimeter apart. Kevin’s fast, shallow breaths caressed Xu’s lips, the clean toothpaste flavor coating his tongue.

“I can give you what you want, but you have to agree to my terms. She can’t see you from that position, she doesn’t know what I’m doing to you. I could fuck you in the ass right here and she’d never know it. As far as she knows, I’m letting you lead.”

Kevin shuddered in his arms. “What do you want?”

Xu allowed himself a smile. Perfect. His cock strained against his uniform.

“For every orgasm tonight – yours and hers – you owe me a suck and a fuck, to be collected whenever I want.”

Kevin’s pupils dilated wildly. His shoulders twitched and the muscles in his thighs and back tensed up. He started to lick his lips, but froze immediately. The tip of his tongue just touched the center of Xu’s lower lip. Xu parted his lips, allowing his hotter-than-human breath to wash over the nerves of Kevin’s tongue.

“I’ll make you like it. In return, I’ll guarantee you at least one night alone with Valerie.”

Kevin blinked and finally pulled his tongue back into his mouth. He was shaking in Xu’s arms.

“Yes.”

Xu kept the triumph off his face and out of his voice. “Yes you agree to my terms?”

“Yes.” The word was little more than a sigh against Xu’s lips, but it was enough.